ArcaMax

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for over 20 years. When we met, we had both already lost our parents. During all our time together, my husband's younger brother has spent Christmas at our home -- even after we got married and he got married, after we moved out of state and had children (now 17 and 20), and after he and his wife ...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister and I have not spoken in three years following a falling-out over our mother's estate. I won't rehash the details -- suffice it to say, neither of us came out looking entirely clean. We were never close growing up, but we were friendly enough as adults, and I miss that.

Last month, she sent me a card for my birthday. No ...Read more

Dear Annie: My dearest friend and I go back over 50 years. We've seen each other through everything, high and lows.

Recently I became disabled and can no longer drive. I'm also a widow. I'm not asking anyone to chauffeur me around (I have that handled), but a phone call here and there would be lovely. She lives just a short distance away, yet...Read more

I love mystery. No, not the grisly murder-mayhem crime scene. The mystery that moves me (and maybe you, too, after I make my case) is the aura, the enchantment, the spell we women can weave around our femininity. But before we get to that, I want you to know that my concept of feminine mystery has absolutely nothing to do with game playing or ...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister and I have always been close. We grew up sharing clothes, secrets and late-night phone calls, and for years I considered her my best friend. But lately, every conversation with her feels less like a conversation and more like a contest I never signed up to enter.

If I mention that my son made the honor roll, she ...Read more

Dear Annie: My soon-to-be fiancee has had an incredibly hard year. She had ankle surgery and a difficult recovery. She worked hard to get her mental health back on track. She gave up drinking for me. She also went through serious family drama after being kicked out of her aunt's house, and she had to sue to get out of the situation. She won.

...Read more

Dear Annie: Dear Annie: My 90-year-old father has been married to his third wife, who is 85, for nearly 33 years. Between them, they have five adult children: two are his and three are hers.

For their entire marriage, they have relied largely on my father's retirement account to pay their day-to-day living expenses. His wife does not have a ...Read more

We're not southern enough to be yes, ma'am or no, sir, but I try to nudge manners into my kids' daily interactions with strangers. Today, I nudged him when I saw two women cross the parking lot and asked him to open the restaurant door. One of the women was older and one much younger, maybe a grandmother and granddaughter. The younger one smiled...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister-in-law has turned every family gathering into a courtroom, and somehow I am always the defendant.

For years, I have hosted holidays, birthdays and Sunday dinners because I genuinely love having family together. I cook, clean, set the table and try to make everyone feel welcome. But my sister-in-law has a habit of ...Read more

Dear Annie: My granddaughter allows her son to order mocktails -- drinks that sound like the adult version but don't have liquor in them. Even though they are virgin drinks, I'm afraid this will lead him to drinking real alcohol at a young age.

What do you think? -- Concerned About the Message

Dear Concerned: Your worry comes from a loving ...Read more